SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team starts off the new year with Southland Conference play at Lamar on Thursday and against Texas A&M – Corpus Christi on Saturday at the McDermott Center.
 
UIW

• Starting SLC play with a 7-4 record, the Cardinals are amid the best start in Division I program history while sitting atop the conference standings alongside Texas A&M – Corpus Christi.
• UIW's defense is the 17^th-best in the nation, holding opponents to only 53 points per contest.
• On the boards, the Cardinals are allowing their opponents only 34.3 total rebounds, the best in the conference.
• Destiny Terrell is a force on the boards, pulling down 6.8 per game as the third-best rebounder in the Southland Conference.
• Nina De Leon Negron is second in the conference for steals and third in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio. The floor leader also plays the second-most minutes across the SLC.

 
LAMAR

• Lamar is 6-4 overall with a 3-0 record at Neches Arena and is currently third in the Southland Conference standings.  
• The Cardinals are coming off a close 61-58 victory over Loyola Marymount where they outscored the Lions 37-24 in the second half.
• Both Sabria Dean and Akasha Davis are averaging 13 points per game for Lamar. Dean has totaled 16 steals and 18 assists while adding four rebounds. Davis is the leading rebounder with 7.4 per contest to add to her six blocks on the season.

 
TEXAS A&M – CORPUS CHRISTI

• Both the Islanders and the UIW Cardinals are 7-4 heading into Southland Conference play.
• TAMU-CC is on the heels of UIW's defense, allowing its opponents 55.1 points per contest while scoring 66.3 points per game.
• The Islanders are also first in the conference for assist-to-turnover ratio, blocked shots and assists.
• Alecia Westbrook is a strong presence in the paint for TAMU-CC, leading the conference in rebounding with 7.5, while Nabaweeyah McGill is averaging 1.8 blocks per game. Westbrook also leads the team in scoring with 10.1 points per game.

 
FOLLOW ALONG  
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics, visit uiwcardinals.com, follow the Cardinals on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook.  
   
Follow the team on Twitter @UIWWBB and on Instagram @uiw_womenshoops